THE Eastern Regional Police Commander, ACP George Amusah Anko-Bil, has assured leaders of the various political parties in the region that his outfit has properly schooled its men to ensure violence-free elections in the region in December.
He, however, asked the parties to report any misconduct on the part of any policeman, particularly those assigned to polling stations, to his outfit for immediate action to be taken to prevent any confusion or chaos at the polls.
ACP Anko-Bil gave the assurance in Koforidua on Tuesday at the inauguration of a task force that would be solely responsible for the December elections in the region.
The 12-member task force, which has ACP Anko-Bil as chairman, is drawn from the security services and the Information Services Department (ISD).
Present at the function were the Deputy Regional Police Commander, ACP D.N. Ampah Bennin; some senior police officers, officials of the National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE) and the Electoral Commission, as well as representatives of the various political parties in the region, which will also be involved in the process.
According to ACP Anko-Anoil, since it was not possible to deploy policemen to all polling stations, they would only be deployed at ‘flash points’ to pre-empt any confusion to avert violence.
He said this year’s elections had been dubbed the ‘final of finals’ because since the Fourth Republic, the two major parties had had the opportunity to finish two terms each and, therefore, a win for either of them this time would be crucial, hence the need to calm down passion in these “do-or-die” elections.
ACP Anko-Bil stated that the task force and the police in general were committed to ensuring peaceful elections and they would, therefore, learn from past elections and the peculiar encounters within the region, with the view to ameliorating their occurrence.
In answer to a question from Mr Julius Debrah, the Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as to whether personnel from the Community Police would also be deployed to the polling stations, ACP Anko-Bil replied in the negative and explained that they actually did not form part of the security forces but only assisted the police in the communities.
ACP Anko-Bil expressed the hope that the municipal and district assemblies would help in diverse ways to make the elections a success in the region.
Mr Emmanuel Quaye Sowah, the Regional Director of the NCCE, gave the assurance that his outfit would continue to educate the public on the elections and called for co-operation from stakeholders.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
FORMER MINISTER COMMENDS ROAD ENGINEER (PAGE 20)
THE immediate past Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, has praised the out-going New Juaben Municipal Roads Engineer, Mr Abass Awolu, for the able manner in which he handled the construction and rehabilitation of roads in the area.
He said Mr Awolu’s performance had put most of the roads in Koforidua and its adjoining suburbs in good shape to befit the city’s status as the capital and business hub of the region.
Mr Barimah made the commendation at a party organised by road contractors in the area in honour of Mr Abass and Mr Kobina Emim, the Municipal Roads Maintenance Engineer, who have been transferred to the Accra metropolis and the Obuasi municipality respectively.
The former regional minister stated that the ongoing Kassadjan road, with an overpass, which is being transformed from a single lane to a dual carriage way and supervised by Mr Awolu, when completed would further improve transportation in the municipality.
He expressed the hope that his successor would continue with his good works.
The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, and the Adahene of Koforidua, Odeefo Buadi Asiedu, praised Mr Awolu for his capability in contributing to the improvement of the road network in the municipality.
The Adahene described Mr Awolu as a genius in his profession.
Mr Awolu thanked the road contractors for their co-operation, and expressed the hope that they would extend it to whoever took over from him.
He said Mr Awolu’s performance had put most of the roads in Koforidua and its adjoining suburbs in good shape to befit the city’s status as the capital and business hub of the region.
Mr Barimah made the commendation at a party organised by road contractors in the area in honour of Mr Abass and Mr Kobina Emim, the Municipal Roads Maintenance Engineer, who have been transferred to the Accra metropolis and the Obuasi municipality respectively.
The former regional minister stated that the ongoing Kassadjan road, with an overpass, which is being transformed from a single lane to a dual carriage way and supervised by Mr Awolu, when completed would further improve transportation in the municipality.
He expressed the hope that his successor would continue with his good works.
The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, and the Adahene of Koforidua, Odeefo Buadi Asiedu, praised Mr Awolu for his capability in contributing to the improvement of the road network in the municipality.
The Adahene described Mr Awolu as a genius in his profession.
Mr Awolu thanked the road contractors for their co-operation, and expressed the hope that they would extend it to whoever took over from him.
WORK ON K'DUA WATER PROJECT PROGRESSES (PAGE 20)
ABOUT eight years ago Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, was a thriving commercial centre which was the envy of many people, especially workers posted there from other parts of the country.
That was because the town, together with its suburbs of Asokore, Effiduasi, Oyoko, Suhyen and Jumapo and other smaller communities which formed the fast growing municipalit boasted of good social amenities such as schools, hospitals and markets. However, of late the area had been experiencing perennial shortage of a vital social amenity—water.
The municipality, with an estimated population of 200,000 relied on water supply from the Densu River and two springs, the Okomi and Suhyen. The water was inadequate for the big population.
What worsened the situation was that the water pipes laid in the area over the years could not properly ensure free-flow of water for all the communities at the same time.
While some taps in some communities would be running, others would be dried up, compelling the people in such places to trek to the few “oasis” .
The sad aspect of the issue was that all the taps normally stopped flowing during the dry season (December-February), compelling educational institutions to close down to prevent the students from contracting water-borne diseases.
To remedy the situation, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), now managed by Aqua Vittens Rand Limited (AVRL), tried to replace some of the old pipes and also constructed a number of boreholes in areas such as Adweso as a measure to improve water supply.
The rehabilitation of some of the pipes, together with the treatment plants at Suhyen, Densuagya as well as another one near the Obuotabri Mountains together provided 1.2 million gallons of water a day for the municipality.
The water was still inadequate for the people in the municipality, which is fast growing to the status of a metropolis.
Realising the difficulties the people would face in the near future in the wake of increase in population in the area in contrast with the limited supply of water, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government on assumption of power contracted a 33 million euro loan from Belgium for the provision of a water supply system that would bring to an end the perennial water problem facing the municipality.
The project entails drawing water from the Volta Lake at Kpornyakope to a modern treatment plant at Bukonor in the Yilo Krobo District to be pumped to the New Juaben Municipality.
The project, jointly funded by the Belgian government and the KBC Bank in Belgium, is being executed by Denys Engineering, also a Belgian firm.
Fifty-seven per cent of the project that is being executed in phases has been completed to pump 3.5 million gallons of water under the first phase to the municipality.
When the entire project is completed, places such as Tafo and Osiem, all in the East Akyem Municipality would be covered.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Works and Housing during a fact finding tour of the area last week, Mr Okomen Mensah, the Manager of Ekobuil Royal Consult, the consulting firm for the project, said at the current rate of construction, Koforidua and its environs would start enjoying uninterrupted supply of water from the Volta Lake early next year.
“The pipelines are being laid. On the whole, Denys is working ahead of schedule and considering the current rate of construction, water from the Volta Dam would flow to New Juaben early next year,” Mr Mensah said.
He further stated that provision had been made for all the villages and hamlets along the pipeline to benefit from the project.
According to him, in all, 403 standpipes would be provided for people who could not afford water meters for the whole area.
Mr Mensah said the Koforidua township would have the lion’s share of 219 standpipes, with Old Tafo, Osiem and Suhyen getting 154 while the remaining 30 would cater for villages and hamlets along the pipeline.
The Regional Engineer of GWCL/AVRL, Mr J.R. Fofie, who was also present at the Bukonor Plant when the legislators visited the place, said his outfit had been doing its best to ensure that the project was completed on time.
While work on the project progresses each passing day for the people to have good drinking water on time, those living along the pipeline, especially at Bukonor, where a large stretch of farm land had been used, had not yet been compensated for, depriving them of the use of their land.
They had only been compensated for the crops which were destroyed and the monies paid as expected cannot be utilised for any meaningful investment for a secured future.
The reason is that the money, which had already been made available by the GWCL/AVRL to compensate the landowners, had been lodged with the Lands Commission.
According to Mr Mensah, the commission would have to determine the true owners of the land before effecting payment.
The delay in the payment of compensation for the land did not go well with the members of the Parliamentary Select Committee, as they called on the Lands Commission to expedite work on the payment.
“The landowners, who had been deprived of their livelihood must be paid on time to enable them to cater for their immediate needs and also invest for the future,” said Mr Samuel Jonfia, the Chairman of the committee and MP for Ahanta West.
On the whole, the committee commended Denys Engineering for working ahead of schedule. It also praised the GWCL/A VRL as well as Ekobuild Royal Consult for the able manner they had supervised the construction work.
They expressed the hope that the people in the New Juaben Municipality as well as those of Tafo in East Akyem and Osiem in the Fanteakwa District would in the near future enjoy regular supply of good drinking water which had eluded them for sometime now.
That was because the town, together with its suburbs of Asokore, Effiduasi, Oyoko, Suhyen and Jumapo and other smaller communities which formed the fast growing municipalit boasted of good social amenities such as schools, hospitals and markets. However, of late the area had been experiencing perennial shortage of a vital social amenity—water.
The municipality, with an estimated population of 200,000 relied on water supply from the Densu River and two springs, the Okomi and Suhyen. The water was inadequate for the big population.
What worsened the situation was that the water pipes laid in the area over the years could not properly ensure free-flow of water for all the communities at the same time.
While some taps in some communities would be running, others would be dried up, compelling the people in such places to trek to the few “oasis” .
The sad aspect of the issue was that all the taps normally stopped flowing during the dry season (December-February), compelling educational institutions to close down to prevent the students from contracting water-borne diseases.
To remedy the situation, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), now managed by Aqua Vittens Rand Limited (AVRL), tried to replace some of the old pipes and also constructed a number of boreholes in areas such as Adweso as a measure to improve water supply.
The rehabilitation of some of the pipes, together with the treatment plants at Suhyen, Densuagya as well as another one near the Obuotabri Mountains together provided 1.2 million gallons of water a day for the municipality.
The water was still inadequate for the people in the municipality, which is fast growing to the status of a metropolis.
Realising the difficulties the people would face in the near future in the wake of increase in population in the area in contrast with the limited supply of water, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government on assumption of power contracted a 33 million euro loan from Belgium for the provision of a water supply system that would bring to an end the perennial water problem facing the municipality.
The project entails drawing water from the Volta Lake at Kpornyakope to a modern treatment plant at Bukonor in the Yilo Krobo District to be pumped to the New Juaben Municipality.
The project, jointly funded by the Belgian government and the KBC Bank in Belgium, is being executed by Denys Engineering, also a Belgian firm.
Fifty-seven per cent of the project that is being executed in phases has been completed to pump 3.5 million gallons of water under the first phase to the municipality.
When the entire project is completed, places such as Tafo and Osiem, all in the East Akyem Municipality would be covered.
Speaking to the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Works and Housing during a fact finding tour of the area last week, Mr Okomen Mensah, the Manager of Ekobuil Royal Consult, the consulting firm for the project, said at the current rate of construction, Koforidua and its environs would start enjoying uninterrupted supply of water from the Volta Lake early next year.
“The pipelines are being laid. On the whole, Denys is working ahead of schedule and considering the current rate of construction, water from the Volta Dam would flow to New Juaben early next year,” Mr Mensah said.
He further stated that provision had been made for all the villages and hamlets along the pipeline to benefit from the project.
According to him, in all, 403 standpipes would be provided for people who could not afford water meters for the whole area.
Mr Mensah said the Koforidua township would have the lion’s share of 219 standpipes, with Old Tafo, Osiem and Suhyen getting 154 while the remaining 30 would cater for villages and hamlets along the pipeline.
The Regional Engineer of GWCL/AVRL, Mr J.R. Fofie, who was also present at the Bukonor Plant when the legislators visited the place, said his outfit had been doing its best to ensure that the project was completed on time.
While work on the project progresses each passing day for the people to have good drinking water on time, those living along the pipeline, especially at Bukonor, where a large stretch of farm land had been used, had not yet been compensated for, depriving them of the use of their land.
They had only been compensated for the crops which were destroyed and the monies paid as expected cannot be utilised for any meaningful investment for a secured future.
The reason is that the money, which had already been made available by the GWCL/AVRL to compensate the landowners, had been lodged with the Lands Commission.
According to Mr Mensah, the commission would have to determine the true owners of the land before effecting payment.
The delay in the payment of compensation for the land did not go well with the members of the Parliamentary Select Committee, as they called on the Lands Commission to expedite work on the payment.
“The landowners, who had been deprived of their livelihood must be paid on time to enable them to cater for their immediate needs and also invest for the future,” said Mr Samuel Jonfia, the Chairman of the committee and MP for Ahanta West.
On the whole, the committee commended Denys Engineering for working ahead of schedule. It also praised the GWCL/A VRL as well as Ekobuild Royal Consult for the able manner they had supervised the construction work.
They expressed the hope that the people in the New Juaben Municipality as well as those of Tafo in East Akyem and Osiem in the Fanteakwa District would in the near future enjoy regular supply of good drinking water which had eluded them for sometime now.
VRA TO STILL RUN AKOSOMBO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (PAGE 20)
THE Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Owura Kwaku Sarfo, has given the assurance that although his outfit had been asked to concentrate on its core business, the provision of energy, it would still maintain Akosombo International School, which is being run by the authority.
He said that had become necessary due to the excellent academic performance of its students. He said the restructuring exercise would therefore not affect the school.
The school complex made up of junior high and senior high streams with a magnificent infrastructure, is academically one of the best performing schools in the country, with almost all its final-year students entering tertiary educational institutions each year.
Owura Sarfo gave the assurance at the 36th speech and prize-giving day of the school at Akosombo at the weekend.
The well-attended event brought together old students, parents and dignitaries such as Mr Appiah Menka, a business tycoon, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw.
A number of students who distinguished themselves in both academic and non-academic areas were honoured. Also honoured were some tutors who had been teaching in the school for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years as well as others who played significant roles in the academic achievements of the students in the WASSCE.
Owura Sarfo said VRA by mandate was to provide energy for the country and had therefore been asked to pay particular attention to that aspect of operations.
“Of late, there have been a lot of discussions, especially among the VRA staff on the role the VRA schools would play as VRA moves on; but let me state categorically that notwithstanding whatever restructuring VRA goes through, we would ensure the survival and quality of service of the school in whatever form it takes, something we will not compromise on”, he stated.
He stressed that the VRA as the sole owner and shareholder in the school, was wholly committed to the success of the institution.
“As the chief executive, I promise that my team would do everything possible to support the school to turn out young adults who are focused, academically brilliant and socially responsible to take up their appropriate places in society”, Owura Sarfo assured.
He therefore advised the students to make good use of the opportunity offered them and work hard to achieve their ambitions.
In his report, the Headmaster of the senior high school (SHS), Mr John K. Tawiah, said the total enrolment of the school stood at 798 as of April, this year, 286 of which were in junior high school (JHS) and 512 in SHS.
He added that the school’s academic record had been very good over the years, adding that out of the 89 pupils presented for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2007, 31 obtained aggregate 6; 10 had aggregate seven; seven of them aggregate eight, 11 scored aggregate nine, while the rest were spread up to aggregate 18.
He said 67 per cent of the candidates obtained distinction. With regard to the WASSCE, Mr Tawiah said last year, the school presented 156 candidates who scored 99.4 per cent passes as against 100 per cent in 2006, adding that the best candidate had A in seven subjects and one B2 as against 5As and 3Bs the previous year.
He stated further that the school recorded one of its finest examination results in the 2007 University of Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examination with 91.7 per cent passes as against 78.4 per cent in 2006.
Mr Tawiah added that out of the 24 candidates presented for the examination, 22 of them passed in all the subjects.
The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Benedicta Naana Biney, stated that school had the responsibility to ensure both academic and character development of students to address anti-social vices such as corruption, dishonesty aggressiveness, drug abuse, gangsterism and armed robbery.
Madam Naana Biney who praised the VRA for its support to the school, advised the students to study hard to achieve their goals.
For his part, Mr Appiah Menkah said since technology was advancing very fast, it was necessary for the people to adapt accordingly.
He said that had become necessary due to the excellent academic performance of its students. He said the restructuring exercise would therefore not affect the school.
The school complex made up of junior high and senior high streams with a magnificent infrastructure, is academically one of the best performing schools in the country, with almost all its final-year students entering tertiary educational institutions each year.
Owura Sarfo gave the assurance at the 36th speech and prize-giving day of the school at Akosombo at the weekend.
The well-attended event brought together old students, parents and dignitaries such as Mr Appiah Menka, a business tycoon, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asuogyaman, Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw.
A number of students who distinguished themselves in both academic and non-academic areas were honoured. Also honoured were some tutors who had been teaching in the school for periods ranging from 10 to 25 years as well as others who played significant roles in the academic achievements of the students in the WASSCE.
Owura Sarfo said VRA by mandate was to provide energy for the country and had therefore been asked to pay particular attention to that aspect of operations.
“Of late, there have been a lot of discussions, especially among the VRA staff on the role the VRA schools would play as VRA moves on; but let me state categorically that notwithstanding whatever restructuring VRA goes through, we would ensure the survival and quality of service of the school in whatever form it takes, something we will not compromise on”, he stated.
He stressed that the VRA as the sole owner and shareholder in the school, was wholly committed to the success of the institution.
“As the chief executive, I promise that my team would do everything possible to support the school to turn out young adults who are focused, academically brilliant and socially responsible to take up their appropriate places in society”, Owura Sarfo assured.
He therefore advised the students to make good use of the opportunity offered them and work hard to achieve their ambitions.
In his report, the Headmaster of the senior high school (SHS), Mr John K. Tawiah, said the total enrolment of the school stood at 798 as of April, this year, 286 of which were in junior high school (JHS) and 512 in SHS.
He added that the school’s academic record had been very good over the years, adding that out of the 89 pupils presented for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in 2007, 31 obtained aggregate 6; 10 had aggregate seven; seven of them aggregate eight, 11 scored aggregate nine, while the rest were spread up to aggregate 18.
He said 67 per cent of the candidates obtained distinction. With regard to the WASSCE, Mr Tawiah said last year, the school presented 156 candidates who scored 99.4 per cent passes as against 100 per cent in 2006, adding that the best candidate had A in seven subjects and one B2 as against 5As and 3Bs the previous year.
He stated further that the school recorded one of its finest examination results in the 2007 University of Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level examination with 91.7 per cent passes as against 78.4 per cent in 2006.
Mr Tawiah added that out of the 24 candidates presented for the examination, 22 of them passed in all the subjects.
The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Madam Benedicta Naana Biney, stated that school had the responsibility to ensure both academic and character development of students to address anti-social vices such as corruption, dishonesty aggressiveness, drug abuse, gangsterism and armed robbery.
Madam Naana Biney who praised the VRA for its support to the school, advised the students to study hard to achieve their goals.
For his part, Mr Appiah Menkah said since technology was advancing very fast, it was necessary for the people to adapt accordingly.
Friday, July 18, 2008
KROBO CHIEFS PARTNER ASSEMBLY IN DEV (PAGE 20)
THE Manya Krobo Traditional Council and the Lower Manya Krobo District Assembly have decided to jointly pool human and material resources for the development of the district.
In that direction, the two bodies have started organising annual mini conferences involving the chiefs and the technocrats in the assembly, as well as the heads of departments in the district, to brainstorm on issues that will improve the living standard of the people.
The maiden conference, which took place at Odumase Krobo at the weekend, was attended by a number of chiefs, such as Nene Sasraku IV, the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council; Nene Dome Siako of the Suisi Division; Nene Agbau Narh of the Djebiam Division; Manye Natekie, the Assistant Queen of the Manya Krobo State; Asafoatse Aseda Ahor, the Chief of Akuse, and Asafoatse Tettey Eti of Akwenor Mampong.
Also present were the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Sackitey Asare, and representatives of the various departments, who answered questions from the chiefs and offered suggestions for the solution to the problems facing the people in the district.
In his welcome address, Nene Sasraku expressed regret at certain developments in the area, such as the limited number of students being offered scholarships by the Assembly, the irregular supply of water, poor sanitation and revenue mobilisation, and called on the Assembly to do its best to address them.
The traditional council, he said, was prepared to support the Assembly in diverse ways to solve the problems and urged the heads of departments to also support the initiative.
Some of the heads of departments who took turns to highlight their difficulties mentioned lack of office and residential accommodation as the main problems facing them and called for speedy action to enable them to offer their best in developing the district.
Earlier the DCE had briefed the gathering on a number of social amenities, such as school buildings, roads and other projects, that had been provided by the Assembly since he assumed office.
He stated that new projects like the rehabilitation of the Asite-Nuaso and Atua-Mt Mary roads and the extension of electricity to a number of communities would soon start.
Mr Asare further stated that KfW of Germany would support the Assembly to construct a new lorry park at Kpong to replace the old one, which, he said, would be converted to a modern transit point.
The Assembly, the DCE stated, had also offered scholarships to over 100 young men and women to study in youth training institutes in some parts of the region.
According to him, the Assembly was doing its best to address the problems facing the area but a number of factors, notably poor revenue mobilisation resulting from the unwillingness of the people, especially artisans, to pay taxes, were making it difficult to achieve its goals.
Mr Asare said the Assembly would continue to support the traditional council, especially in celebrating the annual Ngmayem Festival.
He called for closer collaboration between the two bodies for the development of the area.
In that direction, the two bodies have started organising annual mini conferences involving the chiefs and the technocrats in the assembly, as well as the heads of departments in the district, to brainstorm on issues that will improve the living standard of the people.
The maiden conference, which took place at Odumase Krobo at the weekend, was attended by a number of chiefs, such as Nene Sasraku IV, the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council; Nene Dome Siako of the Suisi Division; Nene Agbau Narh of the Djebiam Division; Manye Natekie, the Assistant Queen of the Manya Krobo State; Asafoatse Aseda Ahor, the Chief of Akuse, and Asafoatse Tettey Eti of Akwenor Mampong.
Also present were the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr David Sackitey Asare, and representatives of the various departments, who answered questions from the chiefs and offered suggestions for the solution to the problems facing the people in the district.
In his welcome address, Nene Sasraku expressed regret at certain developments in the area, such as the limited number of students being offered scholarships by the Assembly, the irregular supply of water, poor sanitation and revenue mobilisation, and called on the Assembly to do its best to address them.
The traditional council, he said, was prepared to support the Assembly in diverse ways to solve the problems and urged the heads of departments to also support the initiative.
Some of the heads of departments who took turns to highlight their difficulties mentioned lack of office and residential accommodation as the main problems facing them and called for speedy action to enable them to offer their best in developing the district.
Earlier the DCE had briefed the gathering on a number of social amenities, such as school buildings, roads and other projects, that had been provided by the Assembly since he assumed office.
He stated that new projects like the rehabilitation of the Asite-Nuaso and Atua-Mt Mary roads and the extension of electricity to a number of communities would soon start.
Mr Asare further stated that KfW of Germany would support the Assembly to construct a new lorry park at Kpong to replace the old one, which, he said, would be converted to a modern transit point.
The Assembly, the DCE stated, had also offered scholarships to over 100 young men and women to study in youth training institutes in some parts of the region.
According to him, the Assembly was doing its best to address the problems facing the area but a number of factors, notably poor revenue mobilisation resulting from the unwillingness of the people, especially artisans, to pay taxes, were making it difficult to achieve its goals.
Mr Asare said the Assembly would continue to support the traditional council, especially in celebrating the annual Ngmayem Festival.
He called for closer collaboration between the two bodies for the development of the area.
WHITE PAPER RELEASED ON ODUGBLASE LAND (PAGE 20)
THE Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council has released the White Paper on the rival claims to the limestone-rich Odugblase land by both the Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Traditional Areas.
The White Paper, which did not determine the actual owner of the land, stated that both sides had a share in the limestone deposits and must therefore enjoy from its benefits.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, made this known when he read the contents of the report to the representatives of the two traditional councils and individual landowners (farmers) in the disputed area in Koforidua.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the district assemblies of Lower Manya, Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo.
According to the report, authority over the Odugblase land should be apportioned between the two traditional areas, since the area is inhabited by citizens from both tribes.
It stated that since there were 33 Manya Krobo and 15 Yilo Krobo landowners in the area, royalties accruing from the limestone concession should be shared in the proportion of 68.75 per cent for the Manya Krobo landowners and 31.25 per cent for the Yilos.
The report further recommended that a joint account currently held at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Koforidua, in respect of payments on the limestone mining on the disputed lands must be accessed and shared equally between the two traditional authorities, since they jointly and equally contributed to the account.
The regional minister expressed the hope that the recommendations of the White Paper would put to rest the differences between the two traditional areas.
The Konor of Yilo Krobo, Nene Dawutey Ologo V1, was, however, not happy with the recommendations of the report, which, he said, could not determine the ownership of the disputed land and that the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council would seek legal advice for the next line of action.
Nene Ologo stated that since Yilo Krobos and Manya Krobos were brothers and there had not been any confrontation between them, the committee’s recommendation would not heighten tension in the area.
He thanked the Regional Minister for his efforts in addressing the issue.
For his part, Nene Okpatakpla Sasraku IV, the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, said his side would also study the recommendations of the report to determine what to do.
Earlier the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr S.B. Bawa, said as the Krobo area had immense deposits of limestone, Ghacem, a major cement-producing firm, had come to do business in the area.
He said for some time now, there had been some slight disagreements between the two traditional authorities over the ownership of the disputed area and that led to the setting up of a five-member committee to deal with the problem, the findings of which had come out.
The White Paper, which did not determine the actual owner of the land, stated that both sides had a share in the limestone deposits and must therefore enjoy from its benefits.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, made this known when he read the contents of the report to the representatives of the two traditional councils and individual landowners (farmers) in the disputed area in Koforidua.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the district assemblies of Lower Manya, Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo.
According to the report, authority over the Odugblase land should be apportioned between the two traditional areas, since the area is inhabited by citizens from both tribes.
It stated that since there were 33 Manya Krobo and 15 Yilo Krobo landowners in the area, royalties accruing from the limestone concession should be shared in the proportion of 68.75 per cent for the Manya Krobo landowners and 31.25 per cent for the Yilos.
The report further recommended that a joint account currently held at the Ghana Commercial Bank, Koforidua, in respect of payments on the limestone mining on the disputed lands must be accessed and shared equally between the two traditional authorities, since they jointly and equally contributed to the account.
The regional minister expressed the hope that the recommendations of the White Paper would put to rest the differences between the two traditional areas.
The Konor of Yilo Krobo, Nene Dawutey Ologo V1, was, however, not happy with the recommendations of the report, which, he said, could not determine the ownership of the disputed land and that the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council would seek legal advice for the next line of action.
Nene Ologo stated that since Yilo Krobos and Manya Krobos were brothers and there had not been any confrontation between them, the committee’s recommendation would not heighten tension in the area.
He thanked the Regional Minister for his efforts in addressing the issue.
For his part, Nene Okpatakpla Sasraku IV, the acting President of the Manya Krobo Traditional Council, said his side would also study the recommendations of the report to determine what to do.
Earlier the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr S.B. Bawa, said as the Krobo area had immense deposits of limestone, Ghacem, a major cement-producing firm, had come to do business in the area.
He said for some time now, there had been some slight disagreements between the two traditional authorities over the ownership of the disputed area and that led to the setting up of a five-member committee to deal with the problem, the findings of which had come out.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
BAN PLASTIC BAGS ... Coalition (PAGE 33)
THE Ghana National Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations in the Water and Sanitation Sector (CONIWAS) has called on the government to ban the use of plastic bags.
This, it said, was because of the irreparable damage plastic bags caused to the environment.
This was contained in a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of a four-day seminar on water and sanitation in Koforidua.
The event, which was organised by CONIWAS, with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the European Union, the World Bank and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and attended by 104 representatives of NGOs in the water and sanitation sector, was to brainstorm on issues affecting the sector and how best to address them.
According to the communiqué, the use of plastic bags posed a menace to the society because of the irreparable damage they caused to the environment and that the best thing to do was to ban them from the system.
The government, the communiqué stated, should rather encourage the use of paper bags, baskets and other alternatives to replace plastic bags which it said could only dissolve in the soil after about 100 years.
According to the communiqué, the government should declare sanitation a national emergency and come up with an action plan with adequate funding, adding that the sector ministry should also set up a task force to thoroughly discuss the issue to help reduce disparities in data and clarify the actual millennium development targets on sanitation.
It also asked CONIWAS to, as a matter of urgency, organise sanitation forums for presidential aspirants to form part of activities of the International Year of Sanitation and called on all stakeholders to support the School Health Environmental Programme, as well as interventions for out-of-schoolchildren to enhance sanitation awareness among young people.
The communiqué further stated that since about 80 per cent of all cases in the outpatients departments in hospitals were noted to be sanitation-related, mutual health insurance schemes should be encouraged to liaise with district environmental health officers to incorporate sanitation awareness in their educational programmes.
On the provision of places of convenience, it called on the government, development partners and other key players in the sanitation sector to facilitate and provide concessionary loans and micro-credit schemes, in addition to subsidies, to enable more households to own toilets.
The communiqué further called for increased efforts at mainstreaming equity, inclusion and gender issues in sanitation delivery at all levels and at all times, as well as the involvement of traditional authorities and religious leaders.
Bye-laws and regulations on sanitation, the communiqué said, must be enforced.
This, it said, was because of the irreparable damage plastic bags caused to the environment.
This was contained in a 12-point communiqué issued at the end of a four-day seminar on water and sanitation in Koforidua.
The event, which was organised by CONIWAS, with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the European Union, the World Bank and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and attended by 104 representatives of NGOs in the water and sanitation sector, was to brainstorm on issues affecting the sector and how best to address them.
According to the communiqué, the use of plastic bags posed a menace to the society because of the irreparable damage they caused to the environment and that the best thing to do was to ban them from the system.
The government, the communiqué stated, should rather encourage the use of paper bags, baskets and other alternatives to replace plastic bags which it said could only dissolve in the soil after about 100 years.
According to the communiqué, the government should declare sanitation a national emergency and come up with an action plan with adequate funding, adding that the sector ministry should also set up a task force to thoroughly discuss the issue to help reduce disparities in data and clarify the actual millennium development targets on sanitation.
It also asked CONIWAS to, as a matter of urgency, organise sanitation forums for presidential aspirants to form part of activities of the International Year of Sanitation and called on all stakeholders to support the School Health Environmental Programme, as well as interventions for out-of-schoolchildren to enhance sanitation awareness among young people.
The communiqué further stated that since about 80 per cent of all cases in the outpatients departments in hospitals were noted to be sanitation-related, mutual health insurance schemes should be encouraged to liaise with district environmental health officers to incorporate sanitation awareness in their educational programmes.
On the provision of places of convenience, it called on the government, development partners and other key players in the sanitation sector to facilitate and provide concessionary loans and micro-credit schemes, in addition to subsidies, to enable more households to own toilets.
The communiqué further called for increased efforts at mainstreaming equity, inclusion and gender issues in sanitation delivery at all levels and at all times, as well as the involvement of traditional authorities and religious leaders.
Bye-laws and regulations on sanitation, the communiqué said, must be enforced.
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